Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and daughter to quarantine at home after testing positive for Covid-19

The actress's husband, Abhishek Bachchan, will remain in hospital for the time being as he also battles the coronavirus

Powered by automated translation

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, 46, and her daughter, Aaradhya, 8, have confirmed they will self-quarantine at home after being diagnosed with the coronavirus.

The Bollywood actress and her daughter were revealed to have tested positive for Covid-19 on Sunday, July 12, a day after Aishwarya's husband, Abhishek Bachchan, confirmed he had the coronavirus.

Abhishek, 44, and his father, Bollywood screen legend Amitabh Bachchan, 77, both announced that they had tested positive on Saturday, July 11.

Abhishek confirmed that his wife and daughter would stay at home, rather than hospital, on Twitter.

"They will be self-quarantining at home," he wrote. "The BMC [Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation] has been updated of their situation and are doing the needful."

As Aishwarya and her daughter are asymptomatic, they were able to stay at home after signing a declaration that they will isolate.

Abhishek also confirmed that his mother, Jaya Bachchan, had tested negative for Covid-19, but he and his father would remain in hospital for the time being.

"The rest of the family including my mother have tested negative. Thank you all for your wishes and prayers," he added.

"My father and I remain in hospital 'til the doctors decide otherwise. Everyone please remain cautious and safe. Please follow all rules!"

Amitabh is in hospital in an isolation unit, but his symptoms are currently being reported as mild and he is in a stable condition.

"They both voluntarily undertook antigen tests and since the results were positive, they both have been admitted to Nanavati Hospital," Maharashtra state health minister, Rajesh Tope, said in a video statement about Amitabh and Abhishek on Sunday, adding that they both had a mild cough and fever.

Suresh Kakani, commissioner from the BMC said that 16 people from the household have been tested, including those who work there.

Civic authority workers spray sanitiser on the main door of the residence of Bollywood star Amitabh Bachchan as he tested positive for COVID-19 in Mumbai on July 12, 2020. Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan, 77, tested positive for COVID-19 on July 11 and was admitted to hospital in Mumbai, with his actor son Abhishek -- who also announced he had the virus -- saying both cases were mild. / AFP / Sujit Jaiswal
Civic authority workers spray sanitiser on the main door of the residence of Bollywood star Amitabh Bachchan. AFP

On Sunday, BMC workers were seen at the Bachchan family home: they were there to sanitise the premises.

Mumbai is among the Indian cities worst hit by the coronavirus. On Monday, the country's virus caseload reached almost 880,000, with 23,187 deaths recorded.

More on 'Big B'

Known as "Big B", Amitabh rose to fame in the early 1970s on the back of roles in hit movies such as Zanjeer and Sholay.

Active in the film industry since 1969, he has worked on more than 200 movies. His films still open to packed cinemas across India, but his new movie – comedy-drama Gulabo Sitabo – was released on Amazon's streaming service due to the coronavirus restrictions.

Amitabh is an active Twitter user, where he has 43 million followers, and his career has branched into television presenting, business and politics, as well as countless commercial endorsements.

Amitabh, who has won multiple awards for his acting, also hosts Kaun Banega Crorepati, India's version of Who Wants to be a Millionaire – one of the most-watched shows on Indian television for 20 years.

Although the actor lives a healthy lifestyle, he has a history of health issues. He suffered a near-fatal injury during the shooting of an action scene on a film set in 1982 and was critically ill for several months. Thousands gathered outside the hospital and offered prayers daily.

The accident led to the actor to contract the Hepatitis B virus after a blood transfusion from a donor who was carrying it unknowingly. Reports say his liver lost 75 per cent of its function last year due to cirrhosis caused by the virus.

The Bollywood film industry only recently opened for work after a months-long hiatus following the imposition of a nationwide lockdown in India in late March. But actors that are over 65 – who are often most vulnerable to the virus – such as Amitabh, have been told to stay off set amid the pandemic.

Fans of Bollywood actor Amitabh Bachchan hold posters of the actor while a Hindu priest (R) performs special rituals and prayers for the recovery of the actor as he tested positive for COVID-19, at a Hindu temple in Kolkata on July 12, 2020. Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan, 77, tested positive for COVID-19 on July 11 and was admitted to hospital in Mumbai, with his actor son Abhishek -- who also announced he had the virus -- saying both cases were mild.


 / AFP / Dibyangshu SARKAR
Fans of Bollywood actor Amitabh Bachchan hold posters of the actor while a Hindu priest (right) performs special rituals and prayers for the recovery of the actor as he tested positive for Covid-19, in Kolkata on July 12, 2020. AFP

Millions of Indians revere Amitabh like royalty, hanging on his every word, seeking his blessings and congregating outside his Mumbai bungalow every year on October 11, his birthday.

Fellow Bollywood stars left well wishes on social media. Sonam Kapoor tweeted: "Get well soon Amit uncle. All my love and prayers." South Indian superstar Mohanlal tweeted, "Wishing you a quick recovery, prayers" in reply to Abhishek's tweet about his diagnosis.